Sabathia Gives Twins Fits and Bullpen a Rest

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Mauer, a former most valuable player, came into Wednesday’s game with a .326 batting average — second only to Miguel Cabrera in the American League — and was hitting a staggering .418 in September. But by the time his fourth at-bat came around against C. C. Sabathia, he had struck out three times and did not look so dangerous.

Mauer would have to change his approach. He shortened his swing and spread his feet. All he wanted to do, according to the view from Eric Chavez standing down the third-base line, was make contact. Mauer did, but he grounded out to second base.

“That’s the best I’ve seen him,” Mauer said, “and I’ve been watching him for a long time.”

Of all the positives that emanated from the Yankees’ 8-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins — a lopsided victory that gave the weary bullpen a rest, an offensive outburst from Robinson Cano and a dwindling magic number (six) to clinch the division — it was Mauer’s at-bats that, at least for one game, showed that Sabathia was again capable of being one of the game’s most dominant pitchers.

“The only at-bats you really have to look at are Mauer’s,” Chavez said. “He’s one of the best hitters in the league, and C. C. pretty much had his number today. The guy had trouble picking him up and putting the bat on the ball. In his last at-bat he said, ‘O.K., let me just make contact.’ You can tell, as a hitter. You know.”

Mauer, who usually handles left- handed pitchers well, was not the only Twin to struggle. Sabathia (14-6) struck out 10 over eight excellent innings as the Yankees remained a game and a half ahead of the Baltimore Orioles, who beat Toronto, 12-2, later Wednesday.

“It was really good,” Manager Joe Girardi said. “Those guys have had to work a lot, because we’ve been in a lot of close games lately.”

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C. C. Sabathia (14-6) struck out 10 in eight innings, allowing two runs and six hits, in winning for the first time since Aug. 24.Credit
Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

The Yankees scored six runs in the third, two coming on a double by Cano and two on a triple by Curtis Granderson. Chris Dickerson hit a two-run home run in the sixth.

The Twins lost their starter, Samuel Deduno, in the second when he left with an irritation in his left eye. The Yankees punished the bullpen, particularly Brian Duensing, who allowed all six runs in the third.

After recent uncertain starts, Sabathia has stitched together two strong outings of eight scoreless innings apiece and won for the first time since Aug. 24.

Sabathia had been on the disabled list twice since the All-Star Break, once with a groin problem and more recently with a sore left elbow. He went 1-3 in his first five starts after the elbow problem, raising concerns that he had not fully recovered.

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Joe Mauer, who came in hitting .326, was called out on strikes in the sixth inning. He struck out three times against Sabathia.Credit
Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

He consistently denied that he felt lingering discomfort, saying he just was unable to make pitches when he needed to, especially with two strikes or two outs. But in his last two starts the command of his fastball and his sinker returned, and his slider has also been sharper.

Sabathia said he did not know whether the extra days off from the D.L had helped him by making him fresher, or whether they had hurt him by making him rusty.

“It’s a good and bad thing, getting time off,” he said. “Everybody said it was a great thing to have time off, because I was rested — and then I go out and not pitch well, and I’m not as sharp. Being in those situations over and over definitely helps you have confidence.”

Sabathia will make one more regular-season start — against the Red Sox next week — and if the Yankees make the playoffs he could be ready for a wild-card game or Game 1 of the division series. As the Yankees head into the final seven games of the season with hopes for an October run, little could be more reassuring to them than Sabathia’s dominating the way he has, especially against someone like Mauer.

“We need it,” Chavez said. “We definitely need it.”

INSIDE PITCH

Alex Rodriguez, who fouled a ball off the top of his foot in his final at-bat Tuesday, did not play. The Yankees said X-rays were not necessary, but Rodriguez said there was some swelling, and he spent the day getting treatment. He is hopeful he can play Thursday in Toronto. ... The Yankees won their 90th game for the 11th time in 12 seasons.

A version of this article appears in print on September 27, 2012, on page B11 of the New York edition with the headline: Sabathia Gives Twins Fits and Bullpen a Rest. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe